FULTON, Mo. – William Woods (7-17, 4-14 Heart) welcomed longtime rival Missouri Baptist (15-8, 9-6 Heart) to Anderson Arena on Wednesday night and delivered a thrilling 69-57 victory, pulling away late in front of an energetic home crowd.
The Owls came out firing from the opening tip, executing well on the offensive end while matching the Spartans' physicality. Missouri Baptist answered every run, keeping the first half tight, but a strong defensive stand late allowed the Owls to carry a 29-26 lead into the break.
William Woods picked up right where it left off in the second half, pushing the lead to eight before the Spartans responded with a surge of their own. Missouri Baptist flipped the momentum with an extended run, briefly putting the Owls in an eight-point hole.
Refusing to fold, Woods locked in defensively and forced timely turnovers down the stretch. The Owls closed the game on a dominant 19-5 run to seal the 69-57 win and cap off a statement victory at home.
Isaiah Payne led the way with 15 points, including 13 in the second half.
Brock Davis added another double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while
Jacob LaBounty made an impact in his return to the lineup with 12 points and two blocks.
The Owls will look to build on the momentum Saturday as they travel to Grand View for a 2:00 p.m. tip-off.
